Systems and methods for providing high-mast lighting

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods of providing illumination may be provided in accordance with the invention. A lighting unit may be provided comprising a plurality of light sources, each light source of said plurality being at least partially surrounded by an optical element, and a support configured to support the light source above a surface. The light sources may be light emitting plasma sources, and the support may be a high-mast support. In some embodiments, the optical element may be a reflector containing one or more facets, directing the light toward the surface. In some configurations, each light source of said plurality may be independently controllable and/or dimmable. A lighting unit may communicate with an external controller, which may provide instructions for controlling the light sources. A lighting system may be provided with a host controlling a plurality of lighting units, which may be organized into zones. The zones, lighting units, and/or light sources may be independently controllable.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/583,496, filed on Jan. 5, 2012, which is entirelyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Large area lighting systems, such as high-mast systems provide variouslevels of illumination for a variety of applications. Large arealighting systems are often used to illuminate large areas such ashighways, airports, maritime ports, or railroad yards. In denselypopulated areas, such large area lighting systems may result in lightspillage, which may contribute to light pollution and sky glow.

Previously attempts to reduce light spillage have included placingshields or baffles on the lighting fixtures. Challenges may be facedwith wind loads, especially for high-mast systems. Furthermore,traditional high mast systems also result in energy inefficiencies.Depending on the circumstances, different amounts or types of light maybe needed for a particular application.

Thus, a need exists for systems and methods of providing lighting whichmay result in greater energy efficiency and/or illumination control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention may be directed to a lighting unit comprisinga plurality of light emitting plasma light sources, each light source ofsaid plurality being at least partially surrounded by an opticalelement; and a high-mast support configured to support the light sourceabove a surface. In some embodiments, the optical element may be areflector containing one or more facets, directing the light toward thesurface. In some embodiments, each light source of said plurality ispartially surrounded by a separate optical element. In someconfigurations, each light source of said plurality may be independentlydimmable. A lighting unit may have a communication unit capable ofcommunicating with an external controller. One or more lightingcharacteristic of the light sources may be adjustable based oninstructions from the external controller.

A lighting system may be provided in accordance with another aspect ofthe invention. The lighting system may comprise a plurality of lightingunits, an individual lighting unit of said plurality having a lightsource at least partially surrounded by an optical element configured todirect light toward a surface; a high-mast support configured to supportthe light source above the surface; and a communication unit capable ofwireless communications; and a host capable of determining a desiredstatus for a light source of each of said plurality of lighting units,and sending instructions, via a gateway linking a plurality of lightingunits, to the communication unit to an individual lighting unit of saidplurality, thereby effecting said desired status for the light source ofsaid individual lighting unit.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of thepresent disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, thepresent disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, andits several details are capable of modifications in various obviousrespects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, thedrawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature,and not as restrictive.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication, patent, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. A better understanding of the features andadvantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to thefollowing detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments,in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a high-mast lighting unit provided inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a lighting unit provided in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a lighting unit provided. FIG. 3A shows afront view of the lighting unit. FIG. 3B shows an exemplary side view ofthe lighting unit. FIG. 3C shows a top view of the lighting unit. FIG.3D provides a perspective view of the lighting unit.

FIG. 4 shows a lighting unit in accordance with another embodiment ofthe invention. FIG. 4A shows an exploded view of the lighting unit. FIG.4B shows a perspective view of the lighting unit.

FIG. 5 shows optical elements in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 5A shows an example of optical elements provided for thelighting unit. FIG. 5B shows an additional of an optical element thatmay be provided for the lighting unit. FIG. 5C provides a possibleschematic of an optical element used in a lighting unit. FIG. 5D showsan example of a reflector used in a lighting unit. FIG. 5E is an exampleof a fling top reflector. FIG. 5F is an example of a fling bottomreflector. FIG. 5G is an example of a main reflector. FIG. 5H is anexample of a reflector cone. FIG. 5I is an example of a bracket meetinga cone reflector.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a retro-fit connection of a lighting fixtureto a support.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a control hierarchy in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 provides examples of various communication mechanisms betweenlighting units and controllers.

FIG. 9 provides an example of lighting control zones in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatsuch embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilledin the art without departing from the invention. It should be understoodthat various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention describedherein may be employed in practicing the invention.

The invention provides systems and methods for providing illumination inaccordance with aspects of the invention. Various aspects of theinvention described herein may be applied to any of the particularapplications set forth below or for any other types of high-mast orlighting applications. The invention may be applied as a standalonesystem or method, or as part of an energy-saving package, or software.It shall be understood that different aspects of the invention can beappreciated individually, collectively, or in combination with eachother.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a high-mast lighting unit provided inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The lighting unit may bea high-mast luminaire providing illumination to an area. A lighting unitmay have a support 100 which may hold up a lighting fixture 110. Thesupport may include a bend or an arm 105 which may connect the supportto the lighting fixture.

The support 100 may support the lighting fixture so that it is elevatedabove a surface 120. For example, a surface may be the ground, water, astructure, or any other surface that may receive illumination from thelighting unit. The surface may be flat, curved, tilted, rough, smooth,or have any features. The surface may be a naturally occurring surfaceor may be man-made. The surface may include a road, highway, stadium,parking lot, fields, park, farms, land, forest, runway, warehouse, port,refinery, rig, ship, gas station, railway, interchanges, toll plazas,container yards, truck stops, correctional facilities, airports,security areas, sports locations, or any other surface. The lightingunits may be provided indoors or outdoors. In some instances, thelighting units may be used in indoor high bay applications.

The support may be or may include a pole, beam, mast, tower, structure,wall, building, or any other type of mount. In some instances, thesupport may be provided below the lighting fixture, and/or to the sideof the lighting fixture. In some instances, the support may be providedpartially or completely above the lighting fixture (e.g., the lightingfixture may be hanging down off the support or may be suspended by thesupport). The support may include already existing structures for otherfunctions, such as wind towers, broadcast towers, cellular towels,building walls or roofs, or onshore or offshore structures.

The support may be arranged vertically. A longitudinal axis extendingthrough the support may have a vertical orientation. The support may ormay not be perpendicular to the surface. The longitudinal axis may ormay not be perpendicular to the surface.

The support may be a high-mast support. The support may elevate thelighting fixture s desired height h above the surface. In someembodiments, the height h may be greater than or equal to about 50 ft,60 ft, 70 ft, 80 ft, 90 ft, 100 ft, 110 ft, 120 ft, 130 ft, 150 ft, 180ft, 200 ft, 250 ft, or 300 ft. In some instances, the height may fall inthe range of about 90 to 110 ft, 80 to 120 ft, or 70 to 150 ft. In someinstances, the height may be less than about 150 ft, 160 ft, 180 ft, 200ft, 250 ft, 300 ft, 400 ft, or 500 ft.

The lighting fixture may contain one or more light source therein. Thelighting fixture may be capable of distributing light. The lightingfixture may be capable of illuminating at least a portion of thesurface. In some instances, the lighting fixture may be capable ofilluminating a large area of the surface. For example, the lightingfixture may illuminate an area of greater than or equal to about 10 sq.ft, 20 sq. ft, 30 sq. ft, 40 sq. ft, 50 sq. ft, 75 sq. ft, 100 sq. ft,125 sq. ft, 150 sq. ft, 175 sq. ft, 200 sq. ft, 250 sq. ft, 300 sq. ft,350 sq. ft, 400 sq. ft, 450 sq. ft, 500 sq. ft, 600 sq. ft, 700 sq. ft,800 sq. ft, 1000 sq. ft, 1500 sq. ft, 2000 sq. ft, 2500 sq. ft, 3000 sq.ft, 4000 sq. ft, 5000 sq. ft, 7000 sq. ft, or 10000 sq. ft. In someembodiments, the lighting fixture may illuminate an area less than anyof the values described herein, or about 12000 sq. ft, 15000 sq. ft,20000 sq. ft, 30000 sq. ft, or 50000 sq. ft.

An illuminated area may have a dimension d which may be any dimension(e.g., length, width, diameter, diagonal). For example, dimension d maybe greater than, less than, or equal to one or more of the following: ormay fall between two or more of the following: about 3 ft, 5 ft, 10 ft,15 ft, 20 ft, 25 ft, 30 ft, 40 ft, 50 ft, 60 ft, 70 ft, 80 ft, 90 ft,100 ft, 120 ft, 150 ft, 200 ft, 250 ft, 300 ft, 350 ft, 400 ft, 500 ft,600 ft, 700 ft, 800 ft, 900 ft, or 1000 ft.

The illuminated area may refer to an area having a desired or thresholddegree of light intensity per area. For example, an area may beilluminated if it has greater than or equal to about: 0.1 footcandle(fc), 0.2 fc, 0.25 fc, 0.3 fc, 0.4 fc, 0.5 fc, 0.7 fc, 1 fc, 1.5 fc, 2.0fc, 2.5 fc, 3.0 fc, 4.0 fc, 5.0 fc, 6.0 fc, 7.0 fc, 7.5 fc, 8.0 fc, 9.0fc, 10 fc, 12 fc, 15 fc, 20 fc, 25 fc, 30 fc, 40 fc, 50 fc, 55 fc, 60fc, 70 fc, 80 fc, 90 fc, or 100 fc.

In some embodiments, the light may be provided to an illuminated areawith a uniform or substantially uniform degree of intensity.Alternatively, the degrees of intensity of the illuminated areas mayvary. In some instances, a central portion of the illuminated area mayhave greater intensity than an edge of the illuminated area. In someembodiments, the light intensity may be dropped off rapidly, falling toless than half the light source's value at a certain distance from theepicenter. For example, the distance may be 5 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet, 30feet, 40 feet, 50 feet, 60 feet, 70 feet, 80 feet, 90 feet, 100 feet,120 feet, 150 feet, 200 feet, or 300 feet from the epicenter.

The lighting fixture may have one or more feature, such as one or moreoptical element or mask that may provide a desired illumination pattern.In some instances, the desired illumination pattern may provide adesired degree or distribution of light while reducing and/or minimizinglight pollution.

Light may be provided from the lighting fixture at any angle. Thelighting fixture may distribute light at uniform angles all around, orat different angles. For example, the lighting fixture may distributelight at a first angle θ and at a second angle φ, where θ and φ may ormay not have the same values. For example, θ may be greater than orequal to φ or θ may be greater than or equal to φ. In some instances, θand/or φ may have a value falling between 0 and 90 degrees. For example,θ and/or φ may have a value greater than, less than, or equal to one ormore of the following, or falling between two or more of the following:about 0 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 30degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 50 degrees, 60 degrees, 70 degrees, 75degrees, 80 degrees, 85 degrees, or 90 degrees. In some embodiments, theoverall angle provided by a lighting fixture may have any range. Forexample, θ+φ may be greater than, less than, or equal to one or more ofthe following, or falling between two or more of the following: −15degrees, −10 degrees, −5 degrees, 0 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 50 degrees, 60degrees, 70 degrees, 75 degrees, 80 degrees, 85 degrees, or 90 degrees,100 degrees, 110 degrees, 120 degrees, 130 degrees, 140 degrees, 150degrees, 160 degrees, 170 degrees, or 180 degrees. The values for θand/or φ may be the angles relative to a vertical direction (or parallelto the longitudinal axis).

A high-mast lighting unit may be provided in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The high-mast lighting unit may be capableof illuminating a large area. Any description herein of a high-mastlighting unit may apply to any other type of lighting unit, and viceversa.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a lighting unit provided in accordance withan embodiment of the invention. A support 200 may be capable ofsupporting a lighting fixture 210.

A lighting fixture 210 may include a housing 220 which may partially orentirely enclose the lighting fixture. The housing may have any shape orconfiguration. The housing may have a box-like or rectangular shape,cylindrical shape, spherical shape, hemi-spherical shape, elliptical oregg-like shape, elongated curved or flat shape, multi-faceted shape, orany other shape. The housing may partially or entirely enclose thelighting fixture. The housing may have one or more open side that maynot entirely enclose the lighting fixture. In one example, the bottomside of the housing may be open. The housing may include one or morewalls. The walls may be flat, faceted, and/or curved.

The housing may be formed of an opaque material. Alternatively, thehousing may be formed of a transparent or translucent material. In someinstances, the housing may be formed of any combination thereof. Forexample, the housing may include an opaque top and/or side walls, butmay have a transparent bottom. The optical transmissivity and/or lackthereof may be selected to provide a desired light distribution. Forexample, it may be desirable to direct the light downward, withoutpermitting light to escape upward. Alternatively, it may be desirable todirect the light to a particular side without directing the light toanother side. The housing may be opaque where it is undesirable todirect light. The housing may be open, or have a transparent ortranslucent enclosure in a direction where it is desirable to providelight.

The housing may be formed of a material with a high thermal conductivityand/or a low thermal conductivity. The housing may include a metal(e.g., aluminum, copper, silver, nickel, iron, gold, steel, titanium, orany other metals, alloys, or combinations thereof), plastic, polymer,composite, glass, or any other material. In one example, the housing mayinclude 6061 copper-free aluminum. The housing may also include a coverwhich may be clear tempered glass. In some embodiments, the housing mayinclude a cover which may be tempered glass (e.g., clear, prismatic,anti-reflective, and/or high transmittance).

The lighting unit may have one or more light source 230 a, 230 btherein. In some embodiments, a light source may be a light emittingplasma (LEP) light source. Any other light sources known in the art maybe used (e.g., light emitting diode (LED), high pressure sodium (HPS),or any type of gas discharge lamp (e.g., fluorescent lamp, inductivelighting, hollow cathode lamp, neon lamp, argon lamp, plasma lamp, xenonflash lamp), electron stimulated lamp (e.g., cathodoluminescence,electron stimulated luminescence (ESL), cathode ray tube (CRT), nixietube), incandescent lamp (e.g., carbon button lamp, incandescent lightbump, halogen lamp, globar, Nernst lamp), electroluminescent (EL) lamp(e.g., LED, electroluminescent sheets, electroluminescent wires), orhigh-intensity discharge lamps (e.g., carbon arc lamps, ceramicdischarge metal halide lamps, hydragyrum medium-arc iodide lamps,mercury vapor lamps, sodium vapor lamps, sulfur lamp, or xenon arclamp). Some examples of LEP light sources may include a small dosing ofinert gas and/or metal halide salts. In some embodiments, the system maycomprise a quartz glass bulb mounted within a metal-coated ceramicwaveguide. RF energy may be coupled into the waveguide, and theresulting high electric field may excite the contents of the bulb togenerate a sustained plasma channel. If the bulb contains metal halidesalts, these may be vaporized by the plasma and broadband light emissionwill occur. Any description herein of any light source may include anyLEP light source, and vice versa.

An LEP light source may utilize any wattage. For example, a 560 W LEPlight source may be used. The LEP light source may have a wattagegreater than, less than, or equal to one or more of the following, orfalling between two or more of the following: about 50 W, 100 W, 150 W,200 W, 250 W, 280 W, 300 W, 350 W, 400 W, 450 W, 500 W, 530 W, 550 W,570 W, 600 W, 650 W, 700 W, or 750 W. In one example, a lighting fixturemay use two LEP sources each utilizing 280 W for a total system wattageof 560 W.

In some embodiments, a single lighting fixture may have a single lightsource therein. For example, a single light source may be at leastpartially enclosed or surrounded by a housing. Alternatively, a singlelighting fixture may have a plurality of light sources therein. Aplurality of light sources may be at least partially enclosed orsurrounded by a housing. In one example, a lighting fixture may be asingle lighting fixture containing one LEP light source therein. Inanother example, a lighting fixture may be a dual lighting fixturecontaining two LEP light sources therein. In some cases, a singlelighting may provide equivalent or nearly equivalent light output as adual or other lighting fixture. For example, the single lighting unitmay contain one improved light source while the dual lighting fixturemay contain two regular light sources. The improved light sources, asdefined herein, may provide a stronger light beam than the regular lightsources, a differently distributed light beam than the regular lightsources and/or a light beam with other characteristics that differ fromthe regular light sources. Components of the lighting fixture (e.g.,heat sinks, optics and/or any other components described with referenceto FIG. 2 or elsewhere herein) used for improved and regular lightsources may or may not have the same design. In an example, an improvedlight source may provide a stronger light beam, and may thereforerequire a more efficient heat sink. In another example, an improvedlight source may deliver a light beam with a light distribution that mayrequire one or more optics to be configured differently. A lightingfixture may include one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or more light sources therein.

A single lighting fixture may use any number of light sources whilehaving a total wattage consumption that may be less than or equal to anylevel described herein. Alternatively, the single lighting fixture mayhave any number of light sources where each light source has a wattageconsumption that may be less than or equal to any level describedherein.

The light sources may have any configuration or location relative to oneanother. A plurality of light sources may be within the same lightfixture and/or housing. The light sources may be adjacent to oneanother. The light fixture and/or housing may or may not be symmetrical.The light sources may or may not be disposed within the housingsymmetrically.

One or more optical element 235 a, 235 b, may be provided for a lightsource 230 a, 230 b. An optical element may manipulate and/or modifylight emitted from the light source. An optical element may bereflective, refractive, transparent, translucent, may filter or directlight, or may have any other optical property. The optical element mayor may not alter the wavelength of light as emitted by the light source.The optical element may focus, concentrate, diffuse, or alter thepattern of light emitted by the light source. The optical element mayinclude a mirror, lens, filter, or any other type of optical element.Light may or may not pass through the optical element.

The optical element may partially or completely enclose the lightsource. In one example, the optical element may be a reflector that mayat least partially surround the light source. The optical element mayhave an open end at the bottom, and may surround the light source on thesides and/or top. The optical element may be located above the lightsource and/or behind the light source. The optical element may be on theside of the light source opposite a direction of illumination of thelighting fixture. The optical element may or may not contact the lightsource. The optical element may have one or more curved and/or facetedsurface. The optical element may be formed of multiple parts. Additionalexamples or features of the optical element may be described in greaterdetail below.

The optical element may be designed to direct the light in a preferreddirection. In one example, the optical element may be designed to directthe light downward. The optical element may be designed to direct thelight to a desired surface, whether the surface be downward, sideways,upwards, or any combination thereof. The optical element may also bedesigned to direct the light to a desired area of illumination. Forexample, the optical element may focus the light to a smaller area, ormay spread the light to a larger area. The optical element may also bedesigned to provide a desired pattern of illumination, which may includea desired pattern of light intensity. For example, the light intensitymay be even over the area or may have concentrated or dispersed areas.

In some instances, a light source may be in optical communication with asingle optical element, such as a reflector. Alternatively, the lightsource may be in optical communication with a plurality of opticalelements. For example, a light source may have a reflector behind it,and a lens in front of it. The lens may alter the path and/orcharacteristics of the light.

In some embodiments, a lighting fixture may have a plurality of lightsources, and each light source of said plurality may be at leastpartially surrounded by an optical element. In some instances, aplurality of light sources may be surrounded by the same opticalelement, or each light source of a plurality may be surrounded by aseparate optical element. For example, a first light source may besurrounded by a first optical element, and a second light source may besurrounded by a second optical element. In some instances, a pluralityof optical elements may be provided per light source. The plurality ofoptical elements for a single light source may be the same or differenttypes of optical elements. In one example, a lighting fixture may be asingle lighting fixture with one light source, and one reflector. Inanother example, a lighting fixture may be a dual lighting fixture withtwo light sources, and two reflectors, each reflector corresponding to aseparate light source.

The optical element may be fixed with respect to the light source.Alternatively, the optical element may be movable relative to the lightsource. The optical element may be movable to focus and/or direct thelight as desired.

The lighting fixture 200 may also include a driver 240. The driver maybe electrical communication with one or more light source 230 a, 230 b.In some instances, a single driver may be in communication with a singlelight source, or a single driver may be in plurality of light sources orvice versa. In another example, a plurality of drivers may be providedfor a plurality of light sources. The driver may be used to control theoutput of the light source(s). The driver may cause a light source to beturned on or off. The driver may control the energy provided to providea desired dimming level for one or more light source.

A power supply may also be provided. The power supply may be connectedto one or more power source. The power supply may also be connected tothe driver. The driver may be connected to the light source. In someinstances, AC power may be provided to the power supply. The power maybe provided by main feed lines or other sources. The power supply mayconvert the AC power to DC power, which may be provided to the driver.The driver may take the DC power and provide RF power to the lightsource. The light source may provide visible, IR and/or UV light.

A plurality of light sources may be independently controllable. Forexample, the plurality of light sources may be independently turned onand/or off. The plurality of light sources may be independentlydimmable. For example, each light source may be maintained at oradjusted to a desired dim level. For example, if each light source, whenturned on to max capacity is outputting 100%, each light source may bedimmable so that it is outputting light at any value between 0 and 100%.In some instances, the light source may be dimmable anywhere along thescale from 0 to 100%, or at discrete steps/points along the scale. Insome instances, the light source may be dimmable along the scale from20% to 100%. The light source may be dimmable between a thresholdpercentage value below which a driver shuts down the communication and100%. The light source may output light at about 0%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%,45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100%. If eachlight source is independently dimmable to different levels, and multiplelight sources are provided, this may provide additional levels ofoverall control of light level emitted by the light fixture. Forexample, if each light source is an LEP light source that is dimmable tothe closest 20%, and two light sources are provided, this may provide adegree of control of up to 10% for the entire light fixture.

A lighting fixture may optionally contain a ballast assembly. In someembodiments, the driver may be a ballast assembly or may provide thesame functions as a ballast assembly. The ballast assembly may or maynot be thermally connected to a heat sink. The ballast may be copperwound with a desired power factor (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%). Theballast components may be removable and may permit quick disconnectassembly for maintenance. A starter may sense an inoperative or missinglight source, and may automatically shut down to prevent runawayoperation, shortened life, and/or damage to secondary ballast windings.

A lighting fixture 200 may include a controller 250. The controller mayprovide one or more instructions that may control the operation of thelighting fixture. For example, the controller may provide instructionsto a driver 240 which may cause a desired light level to be output fromone or more light sources 230 a, 230 b. For example, the controller mayinstruct a driver to turn a light source on and/or off, or to dim thelight source to a desired level.

The lighting fixture 200 may also include a communication unit 260. Thecommunication unit may permit communications of the lighting fixturewith one or more external device. For example, the lighting fixture maycommunicate with one or more external controller which may provideinstructions to the lighting fixture. The lighting fixture also provideinformation to the external controller. One-way and/or two-waycommunications may be provided between the lighting fixture and theexternal controller. Additional details and examples are provided below.

The communication unit may be capable of wired and/or wirelesscommunications. The communication unit may communicate over a network.For example, the communication unit may communicate over a local areanetwork (LAN), or wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. Thecommunication unit may communicate over a telecommunications network,such as a cell-phone or data network. The communication unit maycommunity with proximity-based interactions, such as Bluetooth, Zigbee,IR, or any other type of communications. Additional examples areprovided below. See, e.g., IEEE Standard 802.15.4d-2009, (Apr. 17,2009); IEEE 702.15.4 Wireless Networks User Guide, JN-UG-3024 (Oct. 6,2006); JenNet Stack User Guide, JN-UG-3041 (Sep. 28, 2010); JN51xxIntegrated Peripherals API User Guide, JN-UG-3066 (Jun. 30, 2011), whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

One or more heat sink 270 a, 270 b may be provided on a lighting fixture200. The heat sink may be provided on the exterior of the housing. Theheat sink may include one or more fins, channels, grooves, protrusions,bumps, sheets, or any other surface feature. The heat sink may beprovided on a top surface, side surface, and/or bottom surface of thelighting fixture. The heat sink may be in thermal communication with oneor more heat producing portion of the lighting fixture. For example, theheat sink may be in thermal communication with a driver, power supply,and/or light source of the lighting fixture.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a lighting unit provided. An exterior of alighting fixture may be shown. FIG. 3A shows a front view of thelighting unit. The lighting unit may include a housing 320 for thelighting fixture 310. One or more support interface 305 may be provided,useful for connecting the lighting fixture to a support.

The housing 320 may have a rectangular shape. The housing may includeone or more walls that may surround one or more portions of the lightingfixture.

One or more heat sinks 370 a, 370 b may be provided on the housing 320.In some instances, the heat sinks may be mounted on a top portion of thehousing. The heat sinks may be in thermal communication with one or moreheat-producing component therein. In some examples the heat sinks may bein thermal communication with a light source and/or driver. The heatsinks may be directly contacting the heat-producing component or may becontacting the heat-producing component through a thermally conductivematerial. The housing and/or heat sinks may be formed from a thermallyconductive material. Examples of thermally conductive materials mayinclude materials have a thermal conductivity of greater than or equalto about 1 W/mK, 50 W/mK, 100 W/mK, 150 W/mK, 200 W/mK, or 250 W/mK.

The heat sinks may have one or more fin or ridge. In some instances, themay be provided in a radially extending pattern.

FIG. 3B shows an exemplary side view of the lighting unit. A lightingfixture 310 may be connected to a support 300 via one or more supportinterface 305. The support interface may permit the lighting fixture topivot about one or more axis, thereby adjusting an angle of the lightingfixture with respect to the support. For example, the angle of thelighting fixture may be adjustable in one, two, or three directions.Adjusting the angle of the lighting fixture may adjust the area that isilluminated by the lighting fixture. The lighting fixture may be aimedso that the area of illumination is directly below the lighting fixture.Alternatively, the lighting fixture may be angled so that the area ofillumination is partially below the lighting fixture, is offset belowthe lighting fixture, or is any other direction.

The angle may be adjusted in response to a manual adjustment.Alternatively, the angle may be adjusted in response to one or moreactuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism may cause the angle to beadjusted in response to one or more signal.

The support interface may or may not allow the lighting fixture to slidealong the support. The support interface may or may not permit thelighting interface to be raised upward or downward with respect to thesupport.

The lighting fixture 300 may have a housing 320. The housing may have abox-like shape or any other shape. One or more heat sink 370 a, 370 cmay be provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Forexample, a heat sink 370 a may be mounted on top of the housing, whileanother heat sink 370 c may be mounted on a side of the housing. Theheat sinks may be mounted in the proximity of a heat-producing componentcontained within the housing.

FIG. 3C shows a top view of the lighting unit. A lighting fixture 310may be connected to a support 300 via a support interface 305.

The housing 320 may have a rectangular shape, or any other shape. Thehousing may have any size of footprint. For example, the housing mayhave a footprint of greater than, less than, or equal to one or more ofthe following, or falling between two or more of the following: 1 sq.in, 3 sq. inches, 6 sq. inches, 9 sq. inches, 12 sq. inches, 15 sq.inches, 18 sq. inches, 21 sq. inches, 24 sq. inches, 30 sq. inches, 36sq. inches, 42 sq. inches, 50 sq. inches, 70 sq. inches, 100 sq. inches,120 sq. inches, 150 sq. inches, 200 sq. inches, 250 sq. inches, 300 sq.inches, 400 sq. inches, 500 sq. inches, 600 sq. inches, 700 sq. inches,800 sq. inches, 900 sq. inches, or 1000 sq. inches. One or moredimension of the housing (e.g., length, width, height, diagonal, ordiameter), may be greater than, less than, or equal to one or more ofthe following, or falling between two or more of the following: 0.1inches, 0.5 inches, 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches, 5inches, 6 inches, 7 inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, 14inches, 15 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, 20 inches, 22 inches, 24inches, 26 inches, 28 inches, 30 inches, 35 inches, 40 inches, 45inches, 50 inches, 60 inches, 70 inches, or 100 inches.

A plurality of heat sinks 370 a, 370 b, 370 c, 370 d may be provided.One or more of the heat sinks 370 a, 370 b may be provided on a topsurface of the housing. One or more heat sinks 370 c, 370 d may beprovided on a side surface of the housing. The heat sinks may have oneor more fins. The fins may be vertically oriented. In some embodiments,the fins may be radially extending. Alternatively, the fins may beprovided in a parallel fashion. The fins may be oriented so that spaceprovided between the fins open up above the heat sinks.

FIG. 3D provides a perspective view of the lighting unit. The lightingfixture 310 may be connected to the support 310 via a connectioninterface 305. The connection interface may include one or more hinge orpivoting mechanism 307, that may allow the lighting fixture to rotateabout an axis passing through the pivoting mechanism. The connectioninterface may include two or more portions 306 a, 306 b that may moverelative to one another. One portion 306 a may be affixed to thesupport, while another portion 306 b may be affixed to the lightingfixture.

The lighting fixture may have a housing 320. The housing may include atop surface and/or one or more side surfaces. In some instances, thehousing may have a top surface and four side surfaces. The housing mayenclose or at least partially surround one or more components therein.One or more heat sinks 370 a, 370 b, 370 c, 370 d may be provided on thehousing. The heat sinks may be directly attached to the housing surface.The heat sinks may be in thermal communication with the housing.

FIG. 4 shows a lighting unit in accordance with another embodiment ofthe invention. The lighting unit may include a lighting fixture 410which may be supported by a support 400. The support may or may not be ahigh-mast support. The lighting unit may include one or more lightsource, such as an LEP light source. In some embodiments, the lightingunit may include two light sources. For example, the lighting unit maybe a high-mast dual-LEP lighting unit.

FIG. 4A shows an exploded view of the lighting unit. The lighting unitmay include a lighting fixture 410 supported by a support 400. Thelighting fixture may include a housing 420. The housing may have anyshape, such as those described elsewhere herein. The housing may includea top surface and/or a plurality of side surfaces. The housing may atleast partially enclose one or more components therein. In someinstances, a doorframe assembly 422 may be provided. The doorframeassembly may or may not be part of the housing. The doorframe may covera bottom portion of the lighting fixture. The doorframe may have atransparent and/or translucent surface. Light may be capable of passingthrough the doorframe assembly. In some instances, light is not capableof passing through the rest of the housing. For example, light does notpass through the sides or the top of the lighting fixture.

One or more light source 480 a, 480 b may be provided within thelighting fixture. In one example, two light sources are provided withinthe fixture, to provide a dual-source lighting unit. Any number of lightsources may be provided. The light source may be a LEP light source.

One or more optical element may be provided. For example one or morereflectors 485 a, 485 b may be provided. A reflector may at leastpartially surround a light source 480 a, 480 b. In some instances, areflector may surround a light source around its sides and/or top. Thereflector may or may not surround a bottom portion of the light source.A reflector may surround a single light source. Alternatively, areflector may surround a plurality of light sources. In some instances,a plurality of reflectors may be provided, each surrounding a singlelight source or a plurality of light sources. A reflector may includeone or more surface that may reflect light from a light source a desireddirection. In some instances, the reflector may direct the light fromthe light source through the doorframe assembly.

An optical element may surround the light source sufficiently to preventlight from traveling in an undesired direction. For example, light froma first light source surrounded by a first reflector may not reach asecond light source surrounded by a second light reflector. In someinstances, a reflector may not permit light to pass through thereflector.

In some instances, an additional structure, such as a cup or lightingcomponent surface 487 may be provided. The lighting component surfacemay be formed of an opaque material. The lighting component surface maynot permit light to pass through the lighting component surface. Thelighting component surface may partially or completely surround areflector and/or light source. The lighting component surface may keepthe reflector and/or light source in a desired position within thehousing.

An EMC cover 490 a, 490 b may be provided. In some embodiments, an EMCcover may be provided for each lighting component assembly within alight fixture. For example, an EMC cover may be provided for each lightsource. A lighting component assembly may include a lighting componentsurface 487, reflector 485 a, light source 480 a, and the EMC cover 490a. An EMC cover may be mounted to a tab 492 or other portion of thehousing. A tab may have a mounting hole 493 which may be configured toaccept one or more fastener. One or more mounting screws 494 may be usedto connect the EMC cover to the tab. An EMC cover may be attached to ahousing any other techniques or fastening mechanisms including but notlimited to screws, rivets, clamps, snapping features, sliding features,locking features, adhesives, welding, soldering, hook and loopfasteners, or ties. In some instances an EMC O-ring 496 or otherinterfacing component may be provided. The o-ring may be providedbetween the EMC cover and/or the lighting component surface. The o-ringmay provide a resilient interface between the EMC cover and the lightingcomponent surface. The EMC cover may prevent light from leaking in anundesirable manner.

One or more heat sinks 470 a, 470 b, 470 c may be provided on a lightingfixture. The heat sinks may be provided on one or more side of thelighting fixture. The heat sinks may be provided on opposing sides ofthe light fixture. In some instances, heat sinks may be provided onadjacent sides of the light fixture. The heat sinks may be mounted to anexterior of the housing. The heat sinks may be in thermal communicationwith the housing.

The heat sinks may be in thermal communication with one or morecomponent within the housing. For example, the heat sinks may be inthermal communication with a light source, and/or driver for the lightsource. In some embodiments, one or more heat sink or groups of heatsinks may be provided per light source. For example, if two lightsources 480 a, 480 b are provided, two heat sinks 470 a, 470 b may beprovided. In some instances, one or more heat sinks 470 c may be sharedbetween the light sources.

The heat sink may remove heat from the lighting fixture. The heat sinkmay include one or more fins that may assist with the dissipation ofheat from the lighting fixture. The fins may be vertically oriented. Airmay pass between the fins in a vertical direction.

FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the lighting unit. The lightingfixture 410 may be connected to the support 400. The lighting fixturemay include a housing 420, with one or more heat sinks 470 a, 470 b, 470c disposed thereon. A doorframe assembly 422 may form a portion of thehousing. The doorframe assembly may include an optically transmissiveportion. The doorframe assembly may be on a side of the housing in thedirection in which light is emitted by the lighting fixture. In someinstances, the doorframe assembly is on a bottom of the lightingfixture. Alternatively, the lighting fixture may be angled so that thedoorframe assembly is at the bottom, side, top, or any combinationthereof. The housing and doorframe assembly may contain and/or encloseone or more internal components of the lighting fixture.

Examples of internal components may include one or more light source 480a, 480 b. Furthermore, the internal components may include one or moreoptical element 485 a, 485 b, and one or more EMC cover 490 a, 490 b.The internal components may be arranged so that light from the lightsource is directed through the doorframe assembly 422. The internalcomponents may be arranged so that each light source is self-contained.For example, light from one light source may not reach another lightsource directly and/or indirectly. The internal components may includedrivers and/or power supplies for the light sources.

In some instances, a doorframe assembly 422 may be removable from therest of the housing 420. For example, one or more connector of thedoorframe assembly may be unscrewed. One or more light source may beremoved and/or replaced once the doorframe assembly is removed and/oropened. In some instances, the light source may be removed and/orreplaced without requiring the removal or adjustment of any othercomponent. Alternatively, an EMC cover, light component surface, and/oroptical element may be removed and/or adjusted when removing and/orreplacing the light source. In some instances, to replace a light sourceof an individual lighting component assembly, only that individuallighting component assembly may be adjusted or removed, withoutaffecting other lighting component assemblies.

In some instances, a quick disconnect assembly may be provided, whichmay permit tool-free lamp replacement, thereby permitting ease ofmaintenance. For example, a light source may be easily electricallyand/or physically disconnected, thereby permitting simplifiedreplacement.

The lighting fixture may be contained within a compact form provided bythe housing. The lighting fixture may have a relatively small footprint(e.g., such as the dimensions described earlier), which mayadvantageously reduce wind-loading. The lighting fixture may or may nothave an aerodynamic shape.

In some embodiments, the lighting units and fixtures in FIGS. 3-4 may beadapted for containing a single light source. Such configurations mayinclude, for example, locating a single light source (e.g., the lightsource 480 b) and corresponding heat sinks (e.g., the heat sinks 370 a,470 b and 470 c) symmetrically (i.e., along the same axis of symmetry)with respect to a connection interface (e.g., the connection interface305). The lighting fixture may further include an EMC cover (e.g., theEMC cover 490 b) and/or a doorframe assembly (e.g., the doorframeassembly 422) centered on the single light source. One or more of thestructural fasteners, mounting arrangements and/or other lightingfixture components shown in FIGS. 3-4 may be moved, adapted or otherwisetransformed in the single light source configuration. One or moreadditional components may also be provided. For example, heat sinks maybe provided along the side walls of the lighting fixture housing (e.g.,the housing 420) in addition to the heat sinks 470 b and 470 c, allowingheat sinks to be located along all four side walls of the housing. Sucha configuration may be advantageously used to achieve, for example,higher heat transfer rates in single lighting fixtures with improvedlight sources.

FIG. 5A shows an example of an optical element provided for the lightingunit. The optical element may be a reflector 500, which may have apolygonal shape. For example, the reflector may have a regularlypolygonal cross-sectional shape, such as a circle, triangle, square,pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, hendecagon,dodecagon, or any other polygon having any number of sides (e.g., 3 ormore, four or more, five or more, six or more, eight or more, 10 ormore, 12 or more, 16 or more, 20 or more, 25 or more, 30 or more, or 40or more sides). The reflector may be symmetric, or asymmetric.

An optical element may have any size. For example, the optical elementmay have a dimension (e.g., length, width, height, diagonal, diameter)that may be greater than, less than, or equal to about one or more ofthe following, or fall between two or more of the following: about 0.5inches, 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 2.5 inches, 3 inches, 3.5 inches,4 inches, 4.5 inches, 5 inches, 5.5 inches, 6 inches, 7 inches, 8inches, 8.5 inches, 9 inches, 10 inches, 11 inches, 12 inches, 13inches, 15 inches, 17 inches, 20 inches, 25 inches, 30 inches, or 40inches. The optical element may have a greater cross-sectional dimensionthan a height. For example, the ratio of the cross-sectional area to theheight may be about 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 8.7:4.6, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, or anyother ratio.

The optical element may have any number of facets. One or more facet ofthe optical element may be flat, curved, or any combination thereof. Thefacets may correspond to the number of sides of optical element. Thenumber of facets may correspond to a whole number multiplier of thenumber of sides of the cross-sectional shape of the optical element. Forexample if the optical element has twelve sides along itscross-sectional shape, there may be 12 facets, 24 facets, 36 facets, 48facets, or any other number of facets.

A side profile of an optical element may provide an overall curve in theshape of the optical element. One or more curve may be provided at a topportion of the optical element profile. In some instances, one or morecurve may be provided at a bottom portion of the optical elementprofile. In some instances, the top curve and bottom curve may be in thesame direction. For example, both curves may occur inward toward theinterior of the optical element. In some instances, the overall degreeof curvature of the top curve may be about the same as the overalldegree of curvature of the bottom curve. In other embodiments, thecurvature at the top curve may be greater than the curvature of thebottom curve, or vice versa.

In some embodiments, a greater area density of facets may be provided ata top portion of the optical element than at a bottom portion of theoptical element. In some instances, a greater density of facets may beprovided where the optical element has a greater degree of curvature. Insome instances, the optical element have a greater density of facetscloser to a light source.

An optical element may be formed from a reflective material, therebyforming a reflector. In some instances, the optical element may have ashiny or mirrored surface. In some instances, the optical element mayinclude a metal or be formed from a metal. For example, an opticalassembly may include a specular enhanced aluminum panel. In anotherexample, the optical element may include formed aluminum reflectors withanodized finish. The optical element may have a smooth or rough surface.The optical element may or may not be optically transmissive. Light mayor may not pass through the optical element. In some instances, theoptical element may reflect the light to provide it in a desireddirection.

An optical element may be assembled from multiple components, such as,for example, from individual facets and/or other corresponding segmentsor parts. The facets and/or other segments or parts (collectivelyreferred to as “optical element components” herein) may be assembledwithout being permanently joined together. In one example, facets orother optical element components may form a compound shape by being heldor pressed together mechanically (“sandwiched”) in a predeterminedconfiguration between two or more plates or other support members (e.g.,between the support 400 and a corresponding support member). In theabsence of the mechanical stress holding the optical element componentstogether, the optical element components may fall apart. In some cases,the plates and/or support members may include grooves, clips, ribs,non-slip surfaces, stops, pins, ridges, and/or other structural featuresto hold the optical element components in place in a desiredconfiguration. Alternatively, the optical element components may bepermanently joined together (e.g., using adhesive, melting or welding ofseams, or any other connection means known in the art).

The optical elements may be separately formed and assembled together toform a compound shape. In some cases, one or more of the optical elementcomponents may be formed together. Alternatively, each optical elementcomponent may be formed separately. Furthermore, each optical elementcomponent may itself be a compound or hybrid component. For example,each facet or other optical element component may comprise a first baselayer and a second reflective layer that is coated or otherwise joinedwith the base layer. In yet another example, one or more optical elementcomponents may be integrally formed, and subsequently cut or separatedinto individual pieces to enable assembly into a compound shape.Combinations and/or variations of forming and assembling thecompound/hybrid optical element components may be used. For example,first portions of two or more of the optical element components may beintegrally formed and then cut or separated into individual pieces(e.g., a flat sheet of a flexible base layer may be cut into individualfirst portions). Second portions of the two or more optical elements maybe individually joined with the first portions after the first portionshave been separated (e.g., a stiffening reflective coating may bedeposited after separation).

One or more light source 510 may be partially or completely surroundedby the optical element 500. The light source may be a light emittingplasma light source, or any other type of light source describedelsewhere herein. The light source package may have any shape orconfiguration. In one example, the light source may be pill-shaped.Alternatively, the light source package may be tubular, spherical, orhave any other shape or configuration. The light source may be a Topangasource. In some instances, the light source may be a Ceravision or Luximlight source, such as Luxim STA 41 source or STA75 source.

In some instances, the light source may have a small footprint comparedto the optical element. For example, the ratio of the cross-sectionalareas of the light source to the optical element may be greater than,less than, or equal to one or more of the following, or fall between twoor more of the following: about 1:10,000, 1:5,000, 1:1,000, 1:700,1:500, 1:300, 1:200, 1:100, 1:90, 1:80, 1:70, 1:60, 1:50, 1:40, 1:30,1:20, 1:15, 1:10, 1:9, 1:8, 1:7, 1:6, 1:5, 1:4, 1:3, or 1:2.

The light source may be positioned within the optical element at anyposition. In some instances, the light source may be provided at thecenter of the cross-sectional area of the optical element. The center ofthe light source may be equidistant from the sides of a cross-sectionalarea of the optical element.

The light source may be positioned anywhere along the height of theoptical element. In some instances, the light source may be positionedat or near the top of the optical element. For example, the center ofthe light source may be within the top 50%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%,15%, 10%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% of the optical element. Thelight source may be positioned within about 0.1 inches, 0.3 inches, 0.5inches, 0.6 inches, 0.7 inches, 0.8 inches, 0.9 inches, 1 inch, 1.2inches, 1.5 inches, 1.7 inches, 2 inches, 2.5 inches, 3 inches, 2.5inches, or 4 inches from the top of the optical element. In someinstances, some distance may be provided between the light source andthe bottom of the optical element. For example, the light source may belocated at least about 0.1 inches, 0.5 inches, 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2inches, 2.5 inches, 3 inches, 3.5 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, or 6inches from the bottom of the optical element.

The optical element may be configured to cause light to be directed in aparticular direction. For example, the optical element may provide anarrow range of illumination or a wide range of illumination. Theoptical element may cause the light to be emitted at any angle,including those described elsewhere herein. The light may be directed ina symmetrical or asymmetrical manner.

FIG. 5B shows an additional of an optical element 520 that may beprovided for the lighting unit. The optical element may be a reflector.A light source 530 may be located within the optical element. Theoptical element may partially or completely surround the light source.

FIG. 5C provides a possible schematic of an optical element 540 used ina lighting unit. A light source 550 may be located at or near the top ofthe optical element. Light emitted by the light source 560 a maydirectly travel in a direction of illumination, or may be reflected 560b from the optical element and may travel in a direction ofillumination. The light source may be located at or near a top portionof the optical element. In some embodiments, light emitted by the lightsource may be directed primarily downward or in the direction ofillumination. In some instances, not much light is directed upwardstoward the optical element. In some instances, less than about 30%, 20%,15%, 10%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0.1% of the lightemitted by the light source may be directed upwards toward an opticalelement.

In some instances, the direction of the illumination may be toward asurface. In some instances, the direction of illumination may bedownward, angled to the side, to the side, angled upward, or directlyupward.

The optical element may be shaped to provide a desired pattern ofillumination. The light may or may not reach a surface. A desiredpattern of illumination may be provided to the surface. Characteristicsof a desired pattern of illumination may include the shape of theilluminated area, the light intensity distribution over the illuminatedarea, and/or the wavelength of light provided at the illuminated area.

In some instances the optical element may be shaped to provide a desiredpattern of illumination at a desired area of illumination, withoutcausing much extraneous light to reach outside the desired area ofillumination. The optical element may be shaped to focus the light at adesired area of illumination while minimizing or reducing the amount oflight pollution in other directions. For example, the light may bedirectly primarily downward, and reduce the amount of light providedupwards or sideways.

In some examples, an optical element may be configured to provide a 2 fcaverage, 4 fc maximum, 1 fc minimum distribution of light. In anotherexample, the optical element may be configured to provide 5 fc average,with a minimum of 3 fc in working areas and 1 fc in non-working areas,with a maximum of 18 fc. The optical element may provide greater than,equal to, and/or less than about 1 fc, 2 fc, 3 fc, 4 fc, 5 fc, 7 fc, 10fc, 12 fc, 15 fc, 18 fc, 20 fc, or 25 fc. The optical elements may beconfigured to provide illumination to meet OSHA, or other governmentalor private standards. This may occur for conditions, such as a 80-120foot mounting height for the light fixture, with 225 to 450 foot spacingbetween poles.

FIG. 5D shows an example of a reflector 500. The reflector may include amain reflector 571, a fling top reflector 572, a fling bottom reflector573, a reflector cone 574, and a bracket 575 meeting the cone reflector.FIG. 5E is an example of a fling top reflector 572. In some cases, thefling top reflector may be formed from 0.040 inch aluminum. FIG. 5F isan example of a fling bottom reflector 573. In some cases, the flingbottom reflector may be formed from 0.040 inch aluminum. FIG. 5G is anexample of a main reflector 571. FIG. 5H is an example of a reflectorcone 574. FIG. 5I is an example of a bracket 575 meeting a conereflector. In some examples, the bracket may be formed from 0.040 inchaluminum. Examples of possible dimensions of the reflectors in theforegoing figures are shown in inches. Lighting units of the disclosuremay utilize one or more optics arrangements (e.g., one or more opticalelements such as lenses, prisms and/or reflectors, covers and/orcombinations thereof). One or more optics may be aimed, combined orarrayed to produce standard IES light distributions. For example, thelighting units may be configured with IES Type II, Type III, Type IV andType V optical systems. For example, the lighting units may utilizereflectors configured to offer one or more standard light distributions.For example, reflectors of the disclosure may provide IlluminatingEngineering Society (IES) Type II, Type III, Type IV and/or Type V lightdistribution patterns. Standardized light distribution patterns mayprovide specific guidelines for precise light placement. Any standard orcustom light distribution pattern may be provided, In some cases, alight distribution type may include square, round and/or otherillumination configuration (e.g., round or square ground illuminationpatterns). In some cases, light distribution types may have a specificshape. Light distribution types or classifications may specifyphotometric properties, distance to half maximum candela trace, maximumcandela value, lateral light distribution (e.g., lateral lightdistribution with regard to the lighted area width described asmultiples of mounting height, width of half maximum candela trace withina longitudinal distribution range), vertical light distribution (e.g.,based on where maximum intensity (candela value) points to on a grid)and/or other luminaire characteristics.

Different light distribution patterns may be suitable for variouslighting applications. For example, IES Type II light distributions maybe suitable for narrow areas, roadways, and walkways as a result of aasymmetrical wide lateral pattern. In another example, IES Type IIIlight distributions may be suitable for wide roadways, site/areaperimeters and open areas (general site lighting) as a result of anasymmetrical pattern which produces both lateral and forward lightthrow. In a further example, IES Type IV light distributions may besuitable for perimeters where a deep forward throw is required as aresult of a forward throw light pattern that can be equipped withhouse-side shields for maximum lighting control. In yet another example,IES Type V light distributions (e.g., square of round) may be suitablefor large open area illumination (e.g., ports) as a result of beingdesigned for lighting from the center out. Various light distributionpatterns may be associated with a particular pole or mast spacing. Forexample, high mast lighting of the disclosure may be configured with IESType V (also “Type V” herein) optic. One or more high mast lightingunits may be spaced apart (e.g., to provide zone lighting) in a mannersuitable given the individual light distribution patterns of the one ormore lighting units.

A lighting unit may have one or more light sources. In some embodiments,the light sources may be LEP light sources. The LEP light sources mayprovide a more omnidirectional light stream compared to alternativelight sources (e.g., LED light sources) with more pointed light streams.One or more LEP light sources may be combined with one or more IES TypeV optics. The LEP light sources of the disclosure may provide lightintensities, patterns and/or other illumination characteristics that maybe advantageously combined with a Type V optic to enable the lightingsystems of the disclosure. For example, an LEP light source may providea light pattern that is well-suited for providing an IES Type V lightdistribution, or a similar light distribution pattern (e.g., high mastlighting described herein). In some cases, lower optic configurations(e.g., Type II, Type III, Type IV, or other) may not be suitable forproviding high mast lighting using the LEP light sources herein. Forexample, one or more lower optic configurations may provide a too narrowlight distribution for large area high mast lighting systems herein. Insome cases, the lower optic configurations may not adequately utilizeone or more lighting characteristics of the LEP light sources. Type Voptics may include, for example, optical elements such as lenses, prismsand/or reflectors, covers and/or other lighting unit componentsdescribed elsewhere herein. In some cases, Type V optics may include oneor more other optical components.

Lighting units configured with LEP light sources and Type V optics mayilluminate an area to a desired or threshold degree of light intensityper area (e.g., expressed in footcandles, i.e., lumens/ft²) as describedin more detail elsewhere herein. A lighting unit may illuminate an areawith a light intensity greater than or equal to about: 100 lumens, 200lumens, 500 lumens, 1000 lumens, 2000 lumens, 3000 lumens, 4000 lumens,or 5000 lumens. For example, an LEP light source with Type V optic mayilluminate an area with a light intensity of about 4000 lumens. Thelight source may illuminate the ground area with greater than, equal to,and/or less than about 15,000 lumens, 23,000 lumens, 30,000 lumens, or46,000 lumens.

The lighting units configured with LEP light sources and Type V opticsmay spread the light intensity and/or light pattern provided by each LEPlight source over an angle (e.g., to achieve a desired lightdistribution). For example, a portion of the radiant intensity and/orluminous intensity (e.g., candela value) from an LEP light source may bespread over an angle, wherein the portion may be less than, greater thanor equal to about: 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or100%. The radiant intensity and/or luminous intensity may be spread overan angle. The angle may be defined with respect to an axis of symmetryin the direction of illumination. Alternatively, the angle may bedefined as an angle between two directions at different angles withrespect to the axis of symmetry. For example, for a lighting unit withaxially symmetric illumination, the radiant intensity and/or luminousintensity from an LEP light source may be spread over a two-dimensionalangle of less than, greater than or equal to about: 1°, 5°, 10°, 15°,20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 125°, or 180° in a side view of the lightingunit. In some cases, the radiant flux or luminous flux (e.g., lumenvalue) may be uniformly distributed in the direction of illuminationover the spreading angle. Alternatively, the radiant flux and/orluminous flux may be distributed unevenly (e.g., in accordance with adesired light distribution or illumination pattern). For example, 80% ofthe radiant intensity and/or luminous intensity from an LEP light sourcemay be spread over an angle of less than about 10° with respect to anaxis of symmetry in the direction of illumination, 15% may be spreadover an angle of greater than about 10° but less about 15° with respectto an axis of symmetry in the direction of illumination, and 5% may bespread over an angle of greater than about 15° with respect to an axisof symmetry in the direction of illumination. More generally, theradiant intensity and/or luminous intensity from an LEP light source maybe spread over a three-dimensional angle of less than, greater than orequal to about: π/10, π/9, π/8, π/7, π/6, π/5, π/4, π/3, π/2, π, 1.27π,1.47π, 1.67π, 1.87π, or 27π steradians. In some cases, a portion oflight may be spread over an angle of up to 47π steradians.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a retro-fit connection of a lighting fixture610 to a support 600. Alternatively, such a connection may be used for anew support which need not be a retro-fit. A connection interface 605may be used to connect the lighting fixture to the support. In someinstances, the support may be a pre-existing structure. For example, thesupport may be a pre-existing pole, mast, tower, or any other supportdescribed elsewhere herein. The pre-existing support may have been usedfor other types of lighting units, or for other purposes. The supportmay be retro-fitted to support a lighting fixture as described herein.The retro-fit may occur via the connection interface.

In some instances, the connection interface 605 may include a sockethead bolt 606 a and a knuckle 606 b. The knuckle may be connected to thelighting fixture. For example, the knuckle may be affixed to a housingof the lighting fixture. The knuckle may be connected to the lightingfixture in any manner, including mechanical fasteners, adhesives,soldering, welding, or any other connection mechanisms describedelsewhere herein.

The socket head bolt 606 a may be connected to the knuckle 606 b. Thesocket head bolt may have a fixed position relative to the knuckle.Alternatively, the socket head bolt may be movable relative to theknuckle. In one example, a pivot 607 may be provided. The pivot maypermit the socket head to rotate about the pivot point with respect tothe knuckle. The socket head bolt and knuckle may be arranged at variousangles with respect to one another. For example, the socket head boltand the knuckle may be orthogonal to one another. In some instances,they may be arranged at any angle from 0 to 180 at a continuousspectrum. In other embodiments, they may be arranged at any angle from 0to 180 at discrete angles along the spectrum. In some instances a singlepivot is provided, permitting rotation about a single axis of rotation.Alternatively, two or more pivots may be provided, which may permitrotation about two or more axes of rotation. In some instances, a balland socket joint may be provided, which may permit rotation in multipledirections.

The socket head bolt 606 a may connect to the support 600. In someinstances, the socket head bolt may be adjustable to accept variousconfigurations or sizes of the support. For example, if the support isan extended shape, such as a cylinder or prism, the socket head bolt mayhave one or more adjustable features that may accept a variety of sizesand/or shapes. Alternatively, the socket head bolt may be selected tofit a particular support size and/or shape.

A support 600 may include a main power feed 620. The main power feed mayprovide power from a power source. The power source may be a utility,energy storage system (e.g., battery or ultracapacitor), or energygeneration system (e.g., such as a renewable energy generation systemsuch as a photovoltaic system, wind generation system, geothermalsystem, hydroelectric system). The power source may be provided with thepre-existing support.

The knuckle 606 b may include a wiring chamber 622 which may be capableof receiving the main power feed 620. For example, the main power feedmay be provided as one or more wires. The one or more wires may go intothe wiring chamber. In some instances, a wireway cover 624 may beprovided for the wiring chamber. The wireway cover may prevent theinterior of the wiring chamber from being exposed. The wireway cover mayprevent the wiring within the wiring chamber from being exposed. Thewireway cover may be connected to the wiring chamber via one or morefastener, such as flathead screws 626 or any other fastening mechanism.

The lighting fixture 610 may be mechanically and electrically connectedto the support 600. The mechanical connection may be provided via thesocket head bolt 606 a and the knuckle 606 b. The electrical connectionmay be provided via the main power feed 620 which may be housed inportions of the connection interface 605. The main power feed may beelectrically connected to one or more internal components of thelighting fixture. For example, the main power feed may be electricallyconnected to the driver, light source, controller, communication unit,and/or any other components of the lighting fixture.

The support 600 may be retro-fitted with the lighting fixture 610 asdescribed. In some instances, the connection interface 605 may alreadybe connected to the lighting fixture when the socket is connected to thesupport. For instance, the knuckle 606 b may already be connected to thelighting fixture. Alternatively, the connection interface may beconnected to the support prior to being connected to the lightingfixture. For example, the socket head bolt 606 a may be connected to thesupport before the knuckle is connected to the lighting fixture.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a control hierarchy in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. One or more host 700 may be provided inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The host may be used tomanage a lighting system. The host may communicate with one or moregateways 710. A gateway may link one or more lights to the host. In someinstances, a gateway may control one or more zone 720. In someinstances, one or more controller 730 which may be mounted to one ormore light fixture may be provided. One or more controller may beprovided in a zone. The gateway may communicate with one or morecontroller directly without concern for zones, or the controllers may beorganized into zones.

The host 700 may receive one or more sensor reading. The sensors may beprovided as part of a lighting unit or may be provided separately fromthe lighting units. For example, one or more sensor may be provided at alocation to be illuminated by a lighting unit, to determine the level oflight intensity provided at the area. The sensors may includeinformation about the energy consumed by one or more lighting unit,characteristics of light provided by the lighting unit, temperature ofthe lighting unit, errors detected, and/or light-life information. Thisinformation may be sent to the host via a communication unit of alighting unit. In some instances, information may be sent directly froma sensor without going through a lighting unit communication unit.

The host may use collected data to assist with managing the lightingsystem. In some instances, a user may input one or more desiredparameter for one or more zone, or one or more lighting units. Aspreviously described, a host may permit individual lights to be groupedtogether into virtual zones. The zones may be independentlycontrollable. Individual lights within a zone may or may not beindependently controllable. Zones may be used with strategies todecrease energy usage and increase safety.

Data may be used along with standard or custom control applications,which may optimize or improve energy usage and safety. On demand statusand maintenance reports, which may be viewed locally or remotely, can begenerated. Energy data management reports may be provided, which maylook at total energy usage per lighting unit, per zone, or for an entirenetwork. The energy data management reports may provide such informationwithin a selected time window. For example, the energy data managementreport may look at energy usage from a particular date or time toanother particular date or time. Energy data management reports may alsolook at illumination provided on a per lighting unit, zone, or entirenetwork basis. Energy efficiency for one or more lighting unit and/orzone may be calculated. The energy data management report may also showthe illumination provided at a desired illumination area. In someinstances, the energy data management report may also show theillumination provided at undesired areas (e.g., light pollution).

The host may be provided on a device, such as a server, personalcomputer, laptop computer, tablet, mobile device (e.g., smartphone, cellphone, personal digital assistant), or any other networked device. Thehost may have one or more processor and a memory. The memory may storedata and/or non-transitory computer readable media, which may includecode, logic, or instructions for performing one or more step. Forexample, the tangible computer readable media may include instructionsfor performing a calculation and/or determination as provided herein, orgenerating a report as provided herein. A processor may be used to carryout one or more step as described herein. A host may be accessed by auser via a device, such as a device described herein. The host may beprovided on a cloud-computing type infrastructure. One or moreprocessing component for the host and/or memory for the host may bedistributed over a cloud-computing infrastructure.

The host 700 may communicate with one or more gateways 710. In someinstances, the host may communicate with multiple gateways, such as twoor more, three or more, four or more, five or more, ten or more, 15 ormore, 20 or more, 30 or more, 40 or more, 50 or more, 100 or more, 150or more, 200 or more, 300 or more, or 500 or more gateways. The host maycommunicate with the one or more gateways over a network, such as anytype of network described elsewhere herein. The host may communicatedirectly with one, two or more gateways. The host may communicate withthe gateways wirelessly or over a wired connection. Any communicationsat any of the levels described herein, or between any devices may bewireless or wired. Any communications may be directly between devices,through peer-to-peer arrangements, via one or more additional devices,over a network, or using a cloud-computing infrastructure.

In some embodiments, each gateway 710 may link a plurality of lights tothe host 700, providing a backhaul Ethernet link. Any number of lightsmay be connected via a gateway. In one example, up to 10 lights, 50lights, 100 lights, 250 lights, 500 lights, or 1000 lights may beconnected per gateway. Multiple gateways can be connected to manage alarge number of lights with or without zone configurations. In someinstances, multiple gateways can be connected to manage thousands oflights with multiple zone configurations.

One or more controller 730 may be provided per lighting unit. Forexample, a controller may be mounted on each lighting fixture. Thecontroller may be contained within a housing of the lighting fixture.The controller may permit remote control of on/off/dimming functionswhile monitoring energy usage of the lighting fixture. In someinstances, a plurality of light sources may be provided within thelighting fixture. The controller may permit independent remote controlof on/off/dimming functions of each light source in said plurality. Insome instances, a plurality of controllers may be provided for saidindependent dimming of each light source (e.g., one per light source, orper multiple light sources). Such remote control may be generatedautomatically based on one or more parameters, or may be inputted by auser. In one example, a communication unit of a lighting unit mayreceive a wireless signal, which may be sent to the controller, whichmay provide one or more instructions to a driver to turn on, turn off,dim, or brighten one or more light sources of the lighting fixture. Suchcommunication with the controller may be provided via a communicationunit of the lighting unit, which may permit wired or wirelesscommunications via the gateway.

One or more light source may be individually addressable and/orcontrollable. The light sources may be controlled independently of oneanother. In some instances, each light source may be independentlycontrolled and/or groups of light sources may be controlled togetherindependently of other groups.

The controller may permit monitoring of the lighting unit. Thecontroller may monitor watts, KWHrs and lifetime usage stats for thelighting unit. Such monitoring may occur on a per lighting unit basis,or on a per light source basis. Additionally, diagnostic capabilitiesmay be provided for indicating light failure or inefficiency. Suchfailure or inefficiency may be determined on a per lighting unit basisor a per light source basis. For example, a controller may determinethat a particular light source of a plurality provided in the lightingunit has a potential failure. The alert may be sent via the gateway tothe host, which may provide an alert about which particular light sourceneeds to be replaced or checked.

Various examples of a control hierarchy is provided. Any of numbers oflevels of control or groupings may be provided. A host 700 maycommunicate with a gateway (e.g., GATEWAY 1), which may manage aplurality of zones (e.g., ZONE 1, ZONE 2), which may each have aplurality of controllers (e.g., CONT 1, CONT 2, CONT 3, . . . , CONT A,CONT B, CONT C, . . . ) provided with lighting units. In anotherexample, a host 700 may communicate with a gateway (e.g., GATEWAY 2),which may directly communicate with a plurality of controllers (e.g.,CONT X, CONT Y, CONT Z, . . . ) provided with lighting units, withoutregard to any sort of zone.

The host, gateway, and/or controllers may be located at remote locationsrelative to one another. For example, a controller may communicate witha gateway which may or may not be remote from the controller. Thegateway may communicate with the host which may or may not be remotefrom the gateway. The host and/or controller may or may not be at remotelocations relative to one another.

FIG. 8 provides examples of various communication mechanisms betweenlighting units and external devices. In one example, a plurality oflighting units 800 a, 800 b, 800 c may be provided. The lighting unitsmay communicate with an external device 810. The external device may bea host, gateway, or another lighting unit. Any description of anexternal device may refer to a single device, plurality of device, orcloud-computing type infrastructure.

The lighting units may have a communication therein. The communicationunit may be capable of sending and/or receiving communications from anexternal device. The lighting units may communicate with the externaldevice via the communication unit.

In some embodiments, the lighting units may communicate directly 820with the external device. Such direct communications may occur viareceivers and/or transmitters of the lighting units and external devicewhich may permit direct communications. Such communications may occurvia any frequency, e.g., radio frequency. Such communications may occurwithout requiring intervention by other devices and/or networks.

The lighting units may also communicate with the external device via anetwork 830. Such networks may be local area networks, or wide areanetworks, such as the Internet. Such networks may be telecommunicationnetworks.

A tower 840 or other structure may aid in the communication of thelighting unit with an external device. Such a structure may receive asignal from a lighting unit and relay the signal to the external device.Similarly, such a structure may receive a signal from the externaldevice and relay the signal to the lighting unit. In some instances,such signals may be relayed via one tower or intermediary structure.Alternatively, they may be relayed via a plurality or series of towersand/or other structures. The tower or other intermediary structures mayhave receivers and/or transmitters that may permit direct communicationswith the lighting units, external device, and/or other intermediarystructures.

In some instances, communications may be provided via a satellite 850 orother intermediary device. The satellite may receive a signal from alighting unit and relay the signal to the external device. Similarly, asatellite or other intermediary device may receive a signal from theexternal device and relay the signal to the lighting unit.

In some instances, the lighting units may be able to communicatedirectly 860 with one another. Such direct communications may occur viareceivers and/or transmitters of the lighting units which may permitdirect communications. Such communications may occur via any frequency,e.g., radio frequency. Such communications may occur without requiringintervention by other devices and/or networks. In other examples, thelighting units may communicate with one another via one or moreintermediary structure or device, or over a network.

Peer-to-peer communications may be provided between the lighting units.In some instances, peer-to-peer communications may be provided withoutrequiring a centralized host. The functions of the host may be performedby a lighting unit, or by a distributed set of lighting units. Thedistributed set of lighting units may form a cloud type infrastructure.

In some instances, a master-slave organization may be set up, where amaster lighting unit may provide instructions to one or more slavelighting unit. In some instances, the master lighting unit may generateor determine the instructions to the provided to the slave lightingunits. The master lighting unit may function as a host. Alternatively,the master lighting units may receive instructions from a host. Themaster lighting unit may provide instructions to the slave lightingunits based on instructions from the host.

One or more, or any combination of communication techniques and/orcontrol techniques described herein may be used.

Lighting communications and/or control of the disclosure may utilize auser interface provided, with the aid of a processor, to one or moreusers. The user interfaces may allow the user(s) to interact withlighting systems provided herein. For example, one or more communicationand/or control steps, responses, statuses, user inputs, system outputsand/or any other indicators (collectively “data” or “lighting systemdata” herein) of lighting system events may be presented at a userinterface. A user interface may be displayed across a network such asthe Internet. For example, an implementation may include a clientcomputer comprising a video display with at least one display pagecomprising the lighting system data and any associated interfacing data(e.g., machine data). In some embodiments, such data may be collectedfrom one or more measurement or sensing devices at one or more lightingunits, motion sensors, cameras, beacons or beacon receivers,controllers, user terminals, drivers, communication units and/or anyother lighting system components herein (e.g., as described withreference to communications mechanisms of FIG. 8, control hierarchy ofFIG. 7, lighting unit components of FIG. 2, etc.). The data may beretrieved/collected manually, collected automatically (e.g.,periodically, or near-continuously), or a combination thereof.

In some cases, one or more user interfaces may be graphical userinterfaces. The user interface(s) may be displayed on a video displayand/or display page. A server and/or client computer may have access tolighting management software. A user interface may be used to display orprovide access to lighting system data. For example, a user interfacemay be provided for a web page or for an application. An application maybe accessed remotely or locally. A user interface may be provided for asoftware program, gadget, widget, tool, plug-in, or any other type ofobject, application, or software. For example, a user at a clientcomputer may be able to access a display page for a lighting systemmanagement software program. The lighting system management software mayprovide functionality for monitoring, reporting, controlling and/orinteracting with a lighting system.

A display page may comprise well known features of graphical userinterface technology, such as, for example, frames, windows, tabs,scroll bars, buttons, icons, menus, fields, and hyperlinks, and wellknown features such as a “point and click” interface. Pointing to andclicking on a graphical user interface button, icon, menu option, orhyperlink also is known as “selecting” the button, icon, option, orhyperlink. Additionally, a “point and gesture” interface may beutilized, such as a hand-gesture driven interface. Furthermore, atouchscreen interface may be utilized, where touching a visual objectmay constitute selecting the object. Any other interface for interactingwith a graphical user interface may be utilized. A display pageaccording to the invention also may incorporate multimedia features.User interfaces and/or communications/controls provided herein may beimplemented using one or more computer systems (e.g., client computer).The computer system system(s) may include a memory location, acommunications interface, a display interface and, in some cases, a datastorage unit, which are all operatively coupled to a processor, such asa central processing unit (CPU). The memory location may include one ormore of flash memory, cache and a hard disk. In some situations thememory location may be read-only memory (ROM) or random-access memory(RAM), to name a few examples.

The computer system(s) may be embodied in programming. Various aspectsof the technology may be thought of as “products” or “articles ofmanufacture” typically in the form of machine (or processor) executablecode and/or associated data that is carried on or embodied in a type ofmachine readable medium. Machine-executable (also “computer-executable”herein) code may be stored on an electronic storage unit, such as one ormore memory (e.g., ROM, RAM) or one or more hard disks. Examples of harddisks may include magnetic and solid state recording media. “Storage”type media may include any or all of the tangible memory of computers,processors or the like, or associated modules thereof, such as varioussemiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which mayprovide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming.All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through theInternet or various other telecommunication networks. Suchcommunications, for example, may enable loading of the software from onecomputer or processor into another, for example, from a managementserver or host computer into the computer platform of an applicationserver. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elementsincludes optical, electrical and electromagnetic waves, such as usedacross physical interfaces between local devices, through wired andoptical landline networks and over various air links. The physicalelements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, opticallinks or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software.As used herein, unless restricted to non-transitory, tangible “storage”media, terms such as computer or machine “readable medium” may refer toany medium that participates in providing instructions to a processorfor execution.

FIG. 9 provides an example of lighting control zones in accordance withan embodiment of the invention. The zones may cover various geographiclocations or areas. For example, a geographic area may be divided intoone or more zones. The zones may have the same size (e.g., area) and/orshape. Alternatively, the size and/or shape of the zones may vary. Thezones may have the same number of lighting units therein. Alternatively,the zones may have different numbers or distributions of lighting units.

In some instances, the zones may form a grid pattern and/or array.Alternatively, the zones may include irregular shapes. The zones may fittogether like puzzle pieces. In some instances, zones may be determinedbased on geographic landmarks or features. For example, a zone may havea border where there is a ridge or mountain. A zone may have a borderdefined by one or more natural or man-made structure. For example, theinterior of a building (e.g., Zone 5) may be a zone. A zone may also bedetermined based on usage. For example, a portion of land that mayrequire certain light characteristics may form a zone, while an adjacentportion of land which has different light characteristics may formanother zone. In one example, a parking lot may be adjacent to an unusedfield. In some instances, it may be desirable to keep the parking lotmore well-lit than the field. In some instances, zones may overlap on amap. For example, a multi-floor structure may be provided. Each floor ofthe structure may be its own zone. Alternatively, the entire structuremay belong to a single zone.

Lighting units 910 may be located anywhere in a zone 900. In someembodiments, the lighting units may be high-mast lighting units. Thelighting units may utilize light emitting plasma light sources, or anyother light sources described elsewhere herein.

The lighting units may be distributed in any manner to provide a desiredpattern of illumination. In some instances, the lighting units may beprovided in rows, columns, and/or arrays. The number and/or distributionof lighting units may be selected per zone to provide a desired degree(e.g., intensity) and/or pattern of illumination. Some zones may requirebrighter light than other zones. Some zones may require greaterillumination at different times than other zones.

The lighting units may be at any distance from one another. In someinstances, providing lighting units capable of providing a greaterdegree and/or area of illumination may require fewer poles per area. Insome instances, the lighting units may be spaced apart to any density.For example, the lighting units may be n times the support height fromeach other, where n is a whole number (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more).For example, the lighting units may be 3 times a pole height from oneanother. If a lighting unit is mounted on a 100 foot pole, the lightingunits may be about 300 feet from one another.

In some instances, the lighting units are distributed in a zone so thatthere is not much variation in between the brightest and darkest areasof the zone. For example, the maximum variation between brightest anddarkest may be about 10:1, 8:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1.5:1, or about1.1:1.

Lighting within each zone may be independently controlled. For examplelighting units within each zone may be controlled together to provide adesired degree of illumination based on a desired schedule. For example,at a warehouse, a certain degree of brightness may be desired duringhours at which people will likely be around the warehouse or performingfunctions at the warehouse. A lesser degree of brightness may be desiredduring off-hours when nobody is supposed to be around the warehouse, orthe functions that are performed do not require as high a brightness.According to such schedules, the lights of the lighting units may beturned on, turned off, dimmed or brightened correspondingly. In someembodiments, each of the lighting units within the zone may becontrolled according to the same schedule. For example, they may all bedimmed the same amount at the same time. The lighting units within thesame zone may not be controlled independently.

In other examples, each of the lighting units within the same zone maybe independently controlled. For example, an illumination schedule maynote that at a particular time, one part of the zone may require greaterillumination, while at another time, another part of the zone mayrequire greater illumination. The lighting units within the zone may becontrolled to provide the desired degrees of illuminations to thevarious parts of the zones in accordance with the illumination schedule.For example, at Zone 3, a lighting unit may be provided at a north endof the zone, while two lighting units may be provided at a south end ofthe zone. According to an illumination schedule, the light at the northend may be turned off at midnight, while the two southern lighting unitsare dimmed to 50%. Then at 3 am, the light at the north end may beturned on to 70% if there is anticipated activity at the northern end atthat time, and the two southern lights may be dimmed further to 20%. At5 am, if all areas are expected to have full activity, all three lightsmay be turned on to 100%.

One or more lighting unit may be controlled to compensate for anotherlighting unit within the same zone to provide a desired degree ofillumination. For example, it may be desired for a zone to have anoverall degree of illumination. However, certain greater intensities oflight may be desired at various portions of the zones at differenttimes. The individual lighting units within the zone may be dimmed andbrightened correspondingly.

In another example, an error may be detected at one or more lightingunit with a zone. If the error is detected, the lighting unit may beturned off. Other surrounding lights may be turned on or brightened inorder to compensate for the off light.

Such controls may be provided in accordance with a pre-determinedillumination schedule. The illumination schedule may be predetermined bythe host according to one or more standard or customized parameters. Theillumination schedule may be manually determined by a user of thesystem. For example, an operator of a warehouse may interact with a userinterface of the host, and determine that they want certain lights on,off, or at a certain dimmed value at various times. The schedule may bedetermined on a daily basis, weekly basis (e.g., certain schedules mayapply to Wednesdays, and certain different schedules may apply toFridays), monthly basis, or seasonal basis (e.g., more light may berequired earlier in the winter, when it becomes darker faster). Theschedules may be altered as needed.

In some instances, a pre-determined illumination schedule may begenerated based on energy usage and/or cost savings. For example,certain peak hours may have a greater cost of electricity. If not muchillumination is needed at those times, the lights may be dimmed. Thelights may be brightened when electricity is cheaper. The lights may bedimmed and/or brightened also in accordance with illumination need.

A pre-determined illumination schedule may be action-driven. Forexample, the pre-determined illumination schedule may tell the lightingunits to operate in a specific manner at a specific time (e.g., beon/off at specific times, or dimmed to certain levels at certain times).Regardless of the outcome (e.g., how bright or the light distributionpattern), the lighting units may operate as directed. Sensors ormeasurements may not be required in order for the action-drivenschedule. Sensors may optionally be provided to provide confirmationthat the lighting units are operating properly.

In some instances, such illumination schedules may not be predeterminedbut may be generated on the fly in response to one or more sensedcondition. For example, one or more standardized or customizedparameters may be provided (e.g., having a particular area at a desiredbrightness). One or more sensor may be provided to determine if theparameters are being met, and lighting units may be adjustedaccordingly. For example, one or more light sensors may be provided atan area to determine the intensity of light at that area. If the area istoo dimmed, the surrounding lighting units may be brightenedaccordingly. If the area is overly bright, the surrounding lightingunits may be dimmed or turned off. This may allow the lighting units tocompensate for weather or daily conditions. For example, if throughoutthe year, it is desired to keep a particular area lit to a certaindegree until 7 pm, the amount of assistance for lighting the area fromthe lighting units may depend on when the sun goes down.

One or more calculations/rules may be provided that may accept one ormore sensed condition and one or more desired parameter. The signals tobe provided to the lighting units and/or control illumination by thelighting units may be generated by said calculations/rules.

The on-the-fly illumination schemes may be results-driven. For example,the on-the-fly illumination schemes may cause the lighting units tooperate in a manner to achieve a particular result (e.g., desiredillumination pattern and/or degree, desired energy usage, desired energycost thresholds). One or more sensed conditions or measure conditionsmay be required to provide feedback to the system in order to achievethe desired result.

A host may provide a pre-determined illumination schedule and/or theon-the-fly illumination scheme. The host may receive information fromone or more lighting unit and/or additional sensors. The host mayprovide instructions to the one or more lighting units. Suchinstructions may be provided on a zone by zone basis, or on anindividualized lighting units basis. Such instructions or may or may notbe individualized to the level of each light source within the lightingunits. The lighting units may turn on, turn off, dim, brighten, ormaintain the light sources within the lighting units in accordance withthe instructions.

In some embodiments, lighting units of the disclosure may be used toilluminate ports and/or harbors. Vessels (e.g., cargo ships, tankers,cruise ships or any other water-borne vessels) may be moored indesignated locations (also referred to as “berths” in ports andharbors), for example for the purposes of loading, unloading, servicing,fueling and/or other purposes. The berths may be designated by themanagement of a facility (e.g., port authority, harbor master). Thevessels may be assigned to the berths by these authorities. The berthsmay be located alongside a quay or a jetty in large ports, or a floatingdock in small harbors and marinas. The berths may be general or specificto the types of vessels that use them. The size of the berths may vary,for example, from about 5 to 10 m for a small boat in a marina to largerthan about 400 m for a tanker. A port and/or harbor may contain anynumber of berths. For example, a port/harbor may contain less than 5,less than 15, less than 30, less than 50, less than 100, more than 100,more than 200, more than 500, or more than 1000 berths. The number ofberths may be depend on the size of vessels moored in the port/harbor.

A port may comprise one or more zones, which may or may not beilluminated. Each zone may include one or more berths. For example, eachzone may correspond to a berth, or to multiple berths. Alternatively,each berth may include multiple zones. For example, a berth may include1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 or more zones (e.g., a large ship may needillumination in multiple locations and/or from multiple directions,which may define zones, including along the sides of the ship, near thewater surface, at the bow, at the stern, on the deck etc.). Anydescription of ports herein may also be applied to harbors. A zone(e.g., zone 900 in FIG. 9) may include any number of lighting units, asdescribed elsewhere herein. Each lighting units may illuminate a berth,a portion of a berth, a zone, a portion of a zone, or any other part ofthe port. For example, a zone may include a plurality of lighting units910, wherein each lighting unit may illuminate a berth. In anotherexample, more than one of the plurality of lighting units 910 mayilluminate a berth. In yet another example, one or more of the pluralityof lighting units may illuminate a portion of a berth or any other partof the port, Alternatively, the lighting units may illuminate one ormore berths or portions thereof, or any other part of the port withoutbeing organized in zones.

The area illuminated by each lighting unit or lighting fixture 910 mayhave a dimension with illuminated area d or any other area, as describedin greater detail elsewhere herein. In some cases, the area illuminatedby one or more lighting units or lighting fixtures may correspond to aberth, a portion of a berth, a zone, a portion of a zone, or any otherpart of the port.

The lighting units may be organized in lighting control zones described,for example, with reference to FIG. 9. The lighting control zones may ormay not correspond to berths and/or specific parts of the port. One ormore dimensions of a lighting control zone may be a fraction or amultiple of an illuminated area dimension d. For example, a zone may bea couple of football fields wide or long, and may include any number oflighting units. For instance, a length, width, diagonal, and/orcircumference of a zone may be greater than or equal to 50 meters, 75meters, 100 meters, 125 meters, 150 meters, 200 meters, 250 meters, 300meters, 400 meters, 500 meters, 700 meters, or 1000 meters. The lightingunits may each illuminate an area with dimension d as describedelsewhere herein, and may be distributed in the zone such that theilluminated areas are adjacent to each other without overlapping, suchthat the illuminated areas overlap and/or a combination thereof. Thelighting units may be independently controlled. For example, thelighting units may turned on (e.g., value of 1), off (e.g., value 0), orset to any dimmed setting in a continuous or discrete range between 0and 1. This is shown, for example, in zones 1 and 3 in FIG. 9, wheresome of the lighting units 910 are on (indicated by 1), some are off(indicated by 0), and some are dimmed (indicated by, for example, 0.35,0.6 and 0.75).

Adequate port illumination may be an important security measure, suchas, for example, for homeland security considerations. Furthermore,controlled illumination is an important factor in energy efficiency. Insome embodiments, one or more sensors may be provided as describedelsewhere herein. The sensors may include, but are not limited to,photosensors determining the intensity of light provided by one or morelighting units, motion sensors, beacons or receivers of beacon signals(also “beacon receivers” herein) and/or other sensors. Furthermore,sensors may include or be in communication with one or more cameras or acamera network. The sensors may communicate, control and/or becontrolled by lighting units or components thereof through anycommunication means described herein (e.g., via communication meansdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7-9). For example, the sensors,lighting units or lighting/monitoring system components may communicateover a network. The sensors and sensor communications of the disclosuremay enable various port lighting configurations and responses.

Sensors may include motion sensors, which may respond to motion in apredetermined zone, part of a zone, lighting area and/or any other partor section of a port. The motion sensors may enable lighting to beturned on and off as needed in response to motion a sensed area. One ormore lighting units, zones or any other lighting areas herein may bemonitored by one or more motion sensors. When no motion is detected bythe motion sensors, a lighting configuration may include a defaultlighting configuration (e.g., lighting off, low intensity lighting,night lights, or any other predetermined configuration of dimmablelighting units). When motion is detected by the motion sensors, alighting configuration may include turning on one or more lightingunits, which may be organized in zones, to illuminated the lighting areawhere motion was detected and/or nearby lighting areas. In one example,a port may have limited or no illumination (e.g., the quay, jetty ordock may be illuminated by night lighting, ground lighting such as redground lighting, limited or dimmed high mast lighting, no lighting), andhigh mast lighting may be triggered in areas where motion is sensed(e.g., motion along the quay along the side of the ship may cause theside of the ship to be illuminated, and may also cause one or more otherparts of the ship or other lighting zones to be illuminated, includingthe entire ship, nearby ship, multiple zones of the port, the whole portetc.).

The motion sensors may be organized in a motion sensor network. Themotion sensor network may communicate with one or more lighting units ofthe disclosure, and/or with a camera network. The motion sensor network,the camera network and the lighting unit network may communicate witheach other directly and/or by proxy. For example, the camera network maybe in communication with the motion sensors, and the motion sensors maybe in communication with the lighting units. Alternatively, the cameranetwork may be in communication with the lighting units, and the motionsensors may be in communication with the camera network. In anotherexample, the camera network and the motion sensor network may be indirect communication with the lighting unit network and/or with eachother. Examples of communications and responses may include activationof one or more high mast lighting units in response to a signal orsignals received from one or more motion sensors, wherein the signal(s)may activate or control one or more cameras to monitor a given lightingarea.

In some cases, photosensors or photodetectors of the disclosure may besensors of light or other electromagnetic energy, and may include, forexample, image sensors (e.g., CMOS), charge coupled devices (CCD),chemical detectors (e.g., photographic plates), light emitting diodes(LED) reverse-biased to act as photodiodes, optical detectors (e.g.,quantum devices, thermometers), photoresistors or light dependentresistors (LDR), photovoltaic cells or solar cells, photodiodes,photomultiplier tubes, phototubes, phototransistors, quantum dotphotoconductors or photodiodes etc. In some cases, the photosensors orphotodetectors may include light sensing functionality only. In othercases, the photosensors or photodetectors may include other sensingfunctionality. For example, a photosensor which detects thermal energymay detect the presence of persons in a similar fashion to a motiondetector. In another example, an image sensor may have light sensingcapability and may also, or alternatively, record or transmit images ofa lighting area similar to a video camera (e.g., a stream of capturedimages may provide visual or other sensor information similar to arecorded video stream). Thus, cameras and photosensors of the disclosuremay have one or more common characteristics. The cameras may includevideo and/or any other image recording devices and media known in theart. Motion sensors of the disclosure may include, for example, infraredsensors, ultrasonic sensors, microwave sensors, tomographic detectorsand/or other types of detectors.

Sensors may include beacons and/or beacon receivers, such as, forexample, light or optical beacons, radio beacons, high frequencybeacons, space and satellite radio beacons, infrared beacons, sonarbeacons, marker beacons and/or other beacon signal types or frequencies.Beacons may be provided on vessels and received by beacon receivers inthe port. In some cases, beacons may be provided in the port andreceived by beacon receivers on the vessels. For example, a beaconsignal from a vessel (e.g., a ship) may be received at the port and anappropriate lighting configuration may be adapted in response to thebeacon signal. For example, an illuminated pathway may be provided forthe vessel to enter the port. The illuminated pathway may guide thevessel to an appropriate berth. The illuminated pathway may be providedthrough control of one or more lighting units of the disclosure and/orone or more lighting zones. In some cases, dedicated beacons and beaconreceivers may used. In some cases, the beacons and beacon receivers maycommunicate with each other over a network (e.g., satellite network).Beacon communications may include communication/control of beaconsand/or beacon receivers in ports by the vessels and/orcommunication/control of beacons and/or beacon receivers on vessels bythe ports. For example, a vessel may be given a choice of multipleberths, and may communicate a selection to the port, wherein aparticular illuminated pathway is provided at the port in response. Insome cases, vessels and ports may be in electronic communication witheach other in addition to beacon communications (e.g., wirelesscommunications). Such communications may or may not complement beaconcommunications.

Beacon communications may be automatic. For example, a vessel may beprovided with a beacon. The beacon may or may not be automatic. If anappropriate sensor or beacon receiver is present in a port, the beaconsignal may be picked up automatically. In response to the receivedsignal, high mast lighting of the disclosure may be turned on to guidethe way for the vessel entering or navigating the port. The high mastlighting may function as leading lights.

Further, illumination by lighting units herein may be scheduled and/ortimed. For example, lighting may be powered up when vessels arrive.Lighting may be provided in response to communications received from thevessel (e.g., the vessel may communicate a delay, and lighting may bescheduled or rescheduled accordingly). Lighting may be timed (e.g., oneor more lighting areas may be illuminated automatically at sunset,illuminated pathways and/or motion sensor activated illumination mayremain on for a predetermined amount of time before being turned off orreturned to a default setting), Thus, lighting may be provided inreal-time (e.g., in direct response to vessels arriving at the port),according to one or more schedules and/or according to one or moretimers. The lighting may be provided automatically (e.g., withoutrequiring user input), manually (e.g., in response to vessel or portauthority input), or a combination thereof. Illumination by lightingunits of the disclosure may be automatic, sensor-controlled (e.g.,automatic or manual response to beacon signals, motion sensors and othercontrols), manual, timed and/or otherwise configured (e.g., combinationsof the above).

In some instances, lighting may be controlled in communication withmemory that may store information about events. For example, anelectronic calendar or manifest scheduler may be provided which mayinclude information about the schedules of one or more incidents (e.g.,arrivals or departures of ships or other conveyances, expectedactivity). Based on the schedule, lighting may be timed. For example, ifa linked calendar indicates that a ship is scheduled to arrive atmidnight at a particular berth, the lighting units in the proximity ofthe berth may be illuminated a little prior to midnight. Updating thecalendar may result in updating the lighting schedule automatically.Lighting may be controlled in accordance with other peripheralinformation. For example, if a weather report comes in that if a stormis coming in that will likely affect the timing of arrivals or preventarrivals altogether, the lighting schedule may be automatically adjustedor updated.

One or more characteristics, components, features, and/or steps known inthe art may be incorporated and/or used. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.6,676,279; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0315252; U.S. Pat. No.7,246,918; U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,650; U.S. Patent Publication No.2010/0029268; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0121734, which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particularimplementations have been illustrated and described, variousmodifications can be made thereto and are contemplated herein. It isalso not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examplesprovided within the specification. While the invention has beendescribed with reference to the aforementioned specification, thedescriptions and illustrations of the preferable embodiments herein arenot meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it shall beunderstood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to thespecific depictions, configurations or relative proportions set forthherein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. Variousmodifications in form and detail of the embodiments of the inventionwill be apparent to a person skilled in the art. It is thereforecontemplated that the invention shall also cover any such modifications,variations and equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A high-mast lighting unit for illuminating anarea comprising: one or more plasma light sources, each light sourcebeing at least partially surrounded by a reflector with a predefinedcurvature and a relatively horizontal planar polygonal cross section,wherein said reflector is an IES Type V optic formed with a plurality ofindividual facets adjacently positioned in between a pair of opposingsupport members for illuminating the area with at least 10000 lumens ina type V light distribution pattern; a housing and door frame assemblyfor substantially containing each plasma light source and reflector,wherein the door frame assembly is removably attached to a relativelybottom side of the housing to provide access to each plasma light sourceand reflector from the relatively bottom side of the housing; and ahigh-mast support configured to support the housing and door frameassembly substantially containing each plasma light source and reflectorto illuminate the area.
 2. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein eachlight source is partially surrounded by a separate optical element. 3.The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the high-mast support supports thelight source above the surface at a height of 80 feet or greater.
 4. Thelighting unit of claim 1, wherein each light source is independentlydimmable.
 5. The lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising acommunication unit capable of communicating with an external controller.6. The lighting unit of claim 5, wherein one or more lightingcharacteristic of each light source is adjustable based on instructionsfrom the external controller.
 7. A high-mast lighting system forilluminating an area comprising: a plurality of lighting units, anindividual lighting unit of said plurality having a light source atleast partially surrounded by a reflector with a predefined curvatureand a relatively horizontal planar polygonal cross section, wherein saidreflector is an IES Type V optic capable of illuminating the area withat least 10000 lumens, wherein the reflector is formed with a pluralityof individual facets adjacently positioned in between a pair of opposingsupport members and configured to direct light toward a surface in anIES Type V light distribution pattern; wherein each lighting unitcomprises a housing and door frame assembly for substantially containingeach light source and reflector, wherein the door frame assembly isremovably attached to a relatively bottom side of the housing to provideaccess to each light source and reflector from the relatively bottomside of the housing; and a high-mast support configured to support theeach lighting unit having the light source above the surface within thearea; a communication unit capable of wireless communications; and ahost capable of determining a desired status for a light source of eachof said plurality of lighting units, and sending instructions, via agateway linking a plurality of lighting units, to the communication unitto an individual lighting unit of said plurality, thereby effecting saiddesired status for the light source of said individual lighting unit. 8.The lighting unit of claim 7 wherein the light source is a lightemitting plasma light source.
 9. The lighting unit of claim 7 whereinthe desired status is a dim level for the light source.
 10. The lightingunit of claim 7 wherein the host divides the plurality of lighting unitsinto a plurality of zones.
 11. A high-mast lighting unit forilluminating an area comprising: a plasma light source, said lightsource being at least partially surrounded by a reflector with apredefined curvature and a relatively horizontal planar polygonal crosssection, wherein said reflector is an IES Type V optic capable ofilluminating the area in a type V light distribution pattern, whereinsaid IES Type V optic comprises a plurality of individual facets held orpressed together mechanically in a predetermined configuration between apair of opposing support members; wherein the high-mast lighting unitincludes a housing and door frame assembly for substantially containingthe plasma light source and Type V optic, wherein the door frameassembly is removably attached to a relatively lower side of the housingto provide access to the plasma light source and Type V optic from therelatively lower side of the housing; and a high-mast support configuredto support the high-mast lighting unit with light source and type Voptic above a surface within the area.
 12. The lighting unit of claim11, wherein said light source is provided with RF energy.
 13. Ahigh-mast lighting system for selectively illuminating a shipping portarea comprising: a plurality of lighting units for illuminating theshipping port area which is divided into a plurality of zones, whereineach individual lighting unit of said plurality having a plasma lightsource at least partially surrounded by a reflector with a predefinedcurvature and a relatively horizontal planar polygonal cross section andconfigured to direct light toward a surface within a corresponding zone,and a high-mast support configured to support the light source above thesurface, wherein said reflector is formed with a plurality of individualfacets adjacently positioned in between a pair of opposing supportmembers; wherein each lighting unit is formed from a housing and doorframe assembly for substantially containing the plasma light source andreflector, wherein the door frame assembly is removably attached to arelatively bottom side of the housing to provide access to the plasmalight source and reflector from the relatively bottom side of thehousing; a motion sensor configured to monitor movement in at least oneof said plurality of zones; and a network for communicating a signalfrom said motion sensor to at least one of said plurality of lightingunits to selectively illuminate zones within the shipping port area. 14.The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a camera incommunication with said network.
 15. The lighting system of claim 13,further comprising a beacon receiver for receiving a signal from avessel and communicating said signal to at least one of said pluralityof lighting units over said network.
 16. The lighting system of claim15, further comprising a user interface for providing, with the aid of aprocessor, data communicated over said network to one or more users. 17.The lighting system of claim 16, wherein said user interface is agraphical user interface.
 18. The lighting system of claim 13 whereinthe plurality of zones are provided at a port comprising one or moreberths.
 19. The lighting system of claim 13 wherein each zone has one ormore lighting units.
 20. The lighting system of claim 13 furthercomprising a processor in communication with a memory storing a scheduleof events, capable of providing a signal to at least one of saidplurality of lighting units based on said schedule.